…New Captain expected to be a leader on and off the field
By Jemima Holmes
The Senior Men’s National Football Team set off on Saturday afternoon for St. Kitts and Nevis, where they will play the two remaining games in the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
The local arm of Golden Jaguars departed the Eugene F. Correia Airport, Ogle for Antigua and Barbuda, before they make their way to St. Kitts and Nevis.
They will meet with the team’s international group in the twin island, before they get to training ahead of their first game on Friday.
The Guyana Times Sport caught up with the team just before their departure and spoke with Head Coach Marcio Maximo, who highlighted that, this week will be crucial as he looks to explore the team’s strengths and weaknesses, ahead of the must win games.
The Golden Jags local players and staff before their departure from Guyana (Jemima Holmes Photo)
“We training according to our style, according to our opponent, because they have strong points and weakness points and we’ll explore it, especially in last five days before the match, we need to explore it. And look at what we can do to take advantage of the situation, Maximo told the Guyana Times Sport.
Upon being probed about the squad that he selected for the next two games, Marcio solidified his faith in the team.
“(Yes, definitely) The guys are definitely motivated and we did a good training in Guyana and even maintained information about overseas players,” Maximo said about the 23-man squad that was announced on Thursday.
“Like I told you, everybody is professional, no part time because for select players part time, it doesn’t make sense you have National program. But now the group will go well to represent Guyana and do a good performance.”
When asked by this publication about the vacant position of captain, which is now open due to Sam Cox’ non-selection, Coach Maximo shared some qualities he will be looking for in the next captain.
The Golden Jaguars Head Coach related to this publication, “It was two good captains before but you know, cycles change, not only in football, other areas. We have some in our minds, but we’ll converse with the guys first. Basically, he should be a good leader, not only on the pitch but off the pitch as well. And that all players respect as image to follow”
“Of course, any captain is coach extension on the pitch and I think that that’s the main quality our captain should have,” he noted.
For National team debutant Osafa Simpson, this was an opportunity he was expecting and is looking to make the most of it.
The debutant shared, “I know that I would’ve been picked this time around because of the hard work that I put out and I am very thankful for the coach selecting me to be a part of the squad because we have great team.”
“I’m very honoured to be a part of the Guyana Golden Jaguars,” Simpson gushed.
Expressing similar sentiments to his teammate Simpson about the composition of the team, Forward Trayon Bobb is keen on making Guyana proud.
“For me, the team has been training for over a month now, so we’re very prepared. Because of the previous performance, we’re working hard to achieve our goals, go out there and put out our best performance and come out with a good result,” Bobb stated.
On the topic of the team having to travel to Antigua and Barbuda; the Guyana Football Federation has informed that they were rushed into making last minute plans to use Antigua and Barbuda as its training base after the St. Kitts and Nevis authorities informed that the team will not be permitted to arrive in that country until June 2 for the June 4 game on the advice of their National COVID-19 Task Force.
The GFF added, “The Golden Jaguars, who were scheduled to travel on May 29 to St. Kitts and Nevis, will now arrive there on June 2, and GFF President Wayne Forde said, “We are extremely grateful to the authorities and our football colleagues in Antigua and Barbuda for facilitating this encampment, so that the Golden Jaguars can prepare properly as a unit before these vital fixtures.”
